Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 1 of 83
`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 1 of 83
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`EXHIBIT A
`EXHIBIT A
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`

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`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 2 of 83
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`
`
`
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`___________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`___________
`
`
`
`TRILLER, INC.
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`TIKTOK PTE. LTD.
`Patent Owner
`
`
`
`Case No. _______________
`U.S. Patent No. 9,648,132
`Issue Date: May 9, 2017
`
`Title: Method Of Enabling Digital Music Content To Be Downloaded To And Used
`On a Portable Wireless Computing Device
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 9,648,132
`UNDER 35 U.S.C. §§ 311-319 AND 37 C.F.R. § 42.100 ET SEQ.
`
`

`

`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 3 of 83
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`I.
`
`MANDATORY NOTICES UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1) .......................... 1
`
`II.
`
`PAYMENT OF FEES UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.103 ....................................... 2
`
`III. REQUIREMENTS FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW UNDER 37 C.F.R. §
`42.104 .............................................................................................................. 2
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`Standing - 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a) .......................................................... 2
`
`Challenge and Relief Requested - 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b) ..................... 3
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`Challenged Claims - 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(1) ........................... 3
`
`Specific Statutory Grounds - 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(2) .............. 3
`
`Claim Construction - 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(3) .......................... 4
`
`- 37 C.F.R. §
`Explanation of Unpatentability
`42.104(b)(4) ................................................................................ 4
`
`5.
`
`Supporting Evidence - 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(5) ........................ 4
`
`IV. THE SPECIFICATION AND CLAIMS OF THE ’132 PATENT ................. 4
`
`V.
`
`CLAIMS 1, 2, 3, 6, 22, 26, 27, and 31 OF THE ’132 PATENT ARE
`UNPATENTABLE ........................................................................................ 11
`
`A.
`
`Claims 1, 22, 26, and 31 Are Anticipated, or At Least Rendered
`Obvious, By Abrams ........................................................................... 11
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Overview of Abrams ................................................................. 11
`
`Abrams Anticipates, or At Least Renders Obvious, Claim
`1 ................................................................................................. 21
`
`a)
`
`b)
`
`c)
`
`d)
`
`e)
`
`f)
`
`Limitation 1.1 ................................................................. 21
`
`Limitation 1.2 ................................................................. 21
`
`Limitation 1.3 ................................................................. 22
`
`Limitation 1.4 ................................................................. 22
`
`Limitation 1.5 ................................................................. 24
`
`Limitation 1.6 ................................................................. 27
`
`
`
`ii
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`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 4 of 83
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`3.
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`g)
`
`h)
`
`Limitation 1.7 ................................................................. 27
`
`Limitation 1.8 ................................................................. 28
`
`Abrams Anticipates, or At Least Renders Obvious, Claim
`22 ............................................................................................... 30
`
`Abrams Anticipates, or At Least Renders Obvious, Claim
`26 ............................................................................................... 31
`
`Abrams Anticipates, or At Least Renders Obvious, Claim
`31 ............................................................................................... 31
`
`a)
`
`b)
`
`c)
`
`d)
`
`e)
`
`f)
`
`g)
`
`h)
`
`Limitation 31.1 ............................................................... 32
`
`Limitation 31.2 ............................................................... 32
`
`Limitation 31.3 ............................................................... 32
`
`Limitation 31.4 ............................................................... 32
`
`Limitation 31.5 ............................................................... 32
`
`Limitation 31.6 ............................................................... 33
`
`Limitation 31.7 ............................................................... 33
`
`Limitation 31.8 ............................................................... 33
`
`B.
`
`Claims 2 and 27 Would Have Been Obvious In View of Abrams
`and The Knowledge of a POSITA ...................................................... 33
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Claim 2 Would Have Been Obvious In View of Abrams
`and The Knowledge of a POSITA About Multitasking
`and Multithreading .................................................................... 33
`
`Claim 27 Would Have Been Obvious In View of Abrams
`and The Knowledge of a POSITA About Multitasking
`and Multithreading .................................................................... 37
`
`C.
`
`Claims 3, 6, and 27 Are Not Entitled to Their Claimed Priority In
`May 2007 Because Their Subject Matter Is Not Disclosed In the
`May 2007 Priority Document, And Therefore The Applicants’ Own
`Disclosure In Knight 2010 Anticipates, Or At Least Renders
`Obvious, Claims 3, 6, and 27 .............................................................. 38
`
`1.
`
`Knight 2010 Anticipates, Or At Least Renders Obvious,
`
`
`
`iii
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`

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`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 5 of 83
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`Claim 3 ...................................................................................... 41
`
`a)
`
`b)
`
`c)
`
`d)
`
`e)
`
`f)
`
`g)
`
`h)
`
`i)
`
`j)
`
`Claim 1, Limitation 1.1 ................................................... 42
`
`Claim 1, Limitation 1.2 ................................................... 42
`
`Claim 1, Limitation 1.3 ................................................... 43
`
`Claim 1, Limitation 1.4 ................................................... 43
`
`Claim 1, Limitation 1.5 ................................................... 43
`
`Claim 1, Limitation 1.6 ................................................... 44
`
`Claim 1, Limitation 1.7 ................................................... 44
`
`Claim 1, Limitation 1.8 ................................................... 44
`
`Additional Limitations of Claim 2.................................. 45
`
`Additional Limitations of Claim 3.................................. 45
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`Knight 2010 Anticipates, Or At Least Renders Obvious,
`Claim 6 ...................................................................................... 46
`
`Knight 2010 Anticipates, Or At Least Renders Obvious,
`Claim 27 .................................................................................... 47
`
`D.
`
`If The Subject Matter of Claim 6 Is Disclosed In The May 2007
`Priority Document, The Subject Matter of Claim 6 Would Have
`Been Obvious In Light of Abrams and Khedouri ............................... 48
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Overview of Khedouri .............................................................. 49
`
`If The Subject Matter of Claim 6 Is Disclosed In The
`May 2007 Priority Document, The Subject Matter of
`Claim 6 Would Have Been Obvious In View of Abrams
`and Khedouri ............................................................................. 55
`
`a)
`
`b)
`
`c)
`
`Khedouri Discloses “A Music Application” .................. 56
`
`Khedouri Discloses That the Music Application Uses
`Track Meta-Data That Defines Attributes of Tracks ...... 56
`
`Khedouri Discloses Track Meta-Data External to A
`Music Track .................................................................... 57
`
`d)
`
`Under Potential Interpretations Derived From Patent
`
`
`
`iv
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`

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`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 6 of 83
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`Owner’s Positions In The Related Litigation, Khedouri
`Discloses “Track Meta-Data That Is Formed As A
`Separate Meta-Data Layer” ............................................ 57
`
`e)
`
`The Combination of Khedouri and Abrams Would
`Have Been Obvious ........................................................ 59
`
`E.
`
`F.
`
`Claim 3 Would Have Been Obvious In View of Abrams, Khedouri,
`and The Knowledge of a POSITA About Multitasking and
`Multithreading ..................................................................................... 61
`
`If The Subject Matter of Claim 6 Is Disclosed In The May 2007
`Priority Document, The Subject Matter of Claim 6 Would Have
`Been Obvious In Light of Abrams and Partovi ................................... 63
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Overview of Partovi .................................................................. 63
`
`If The Subject Matter of Claim 6 Is Disclosed In The
`May 2007 Priority Document, The Subject Matter of
`Claim 6 Would Have Been Obvious In View of Abrams
`and Partovi ................................................................................ 65
`
`a)
`
`b)
`
`c)
`
`d)
`
`Partovi Discloses “A Music Application” ...................... 66
`
`Partovi Discloses That the Music Application Uses
`Track Meta-Data That Defines Attributes of Tracks ...... 66
`
`Partovi Discloses Track Meta-Data External to A
`Music Track .................................................................... 67
`
`Under Potential Interpretations Derived From Patent
`Owner’s Positions In The Related Litigation, Partovi
`Discloses “Track Meta-Data That Is Formed As A
`Separate Meta-Data Layer” ............................................ 68
`
`e)
`
`The Combination of Partovi and Abrams Would Have
`Been Obvious .................................................................. 69
`
`VI. NO BASIS EXISTS FOR DISCRETIONARY DENIAL ............................ 70
`
`VII. CONCLUSION .............................................................................................. 72
`
`
`
`
`
`v
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`

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`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 7 of 83
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`EXHIBIT LIST
`
`Description
`
`Exhibit
`No.
`1001 U.S. Patent No. 9,648,132
`1002 U.S. Patent No. 9,992,322
`1003 U.S. Patent No. 9,924,430
`1004 Prosecution History of U.S. Patent No. 8,510,847
`1005 Prosecution History of U.S. Patent No. 9,924,430
`1006 Prosecution History of U.S. Patent No. 9,648,132
`1007 Prosecution History of U.S. Patent No. 9,992,322
`1008 PCT Publication No. WO 2007/129081
`1009 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0021750 (“Abrams”)
`1010 U.S. Patent No. 8,572,169 (“Partovi”)
`1011 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0008256 (“Khedouri”)
`1012 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0031366 (“Knight 2010”)
`Plaintiffs’ Disclosure of Asserted Claims and Infringement Contentions
`in N.D. Cal. 4:20-CV-7572 (Redacted) (dated Aug. 27, 2021)
`Steve Monas, YourSpace: A Friend’s Guide to MySpace.com: The Basics
`(2006) (excerpts)
`“Java Threads” (2nd Edition, 1999), by Oaks & Wong
`1015
`1016 U.S. Patent No. 6,134,548 (“Gottsman”)
`1017 U.S. Patent No. 6,567,974 (“Czajkowski”)
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0192818 (“Bourges-
`Sevenier”)
`Pages from www.cnet.com archived on Wayback Machine (dated in 2005
`and 2006)
`1020 U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,951 (“Collins”)
`Opposition to Triller’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings Regarding
`Second, Third, and Fourth Claims for Relief in Second Amended
`Complaint (N.D. Cal. 4:20-7572) (dated Sep. 29, 2021)
`“MySpace, America's Number One,” available at
`https://mashable.com/archive/myspace-americas-number-one
`“Module 19321 (2012),” available at
`https://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/internal/modules/2012/06-19321/mds
`“Module 06-19321 (2012) Software System Components A,” available at
`https://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/internal/modules/2012/06-19321
`1025 Declaration of Michael Shamos, Ph.D.
`1026 Order Re: Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss, or in the Alternative, To Stay
`
`1013
`
`1014
`
`1018
`
`1019
`
`1021
`
`1022
`
`1023
`
`1024
`
`
`
`vi
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`

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`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 8 of 83
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`Exhibit
`No.
`
`Description
`
`1027
`
`First Claim for Relief of Plaintiffs’ First Amended Complaint (N.D. Cal.
`4:20-7572, Dkt. No. 44) (dated Mar. 30, 2021)
`Order Vacating Hearing and Briefing Schedule on Motion for Judgment
`on the Pleadings (N.D. Cal. 4:20-7572, Dkt. No. 47) (dated Apr. 15,
`2021)
`1028 Docket Sheet from N.D. Cal. 4:20-7572
`First Amended Complaint (N.D. Cal. 3:20-7572, now 4:20-7572) (filed
`Nov. 11, 2020) (without exhibits)
`
`1029
`
`
`
`
`
`vii
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`

`

`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 9 of 83
`
`The petitioner in this matter is Triller, Inc. (“Petitioner”). Inter partes review
`
`is requested for claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 22, 26, 27, and 31 of U.S. Patent No. 9,648,132
`
`(“the ’132 patent”) (Ex. 1001).
`
`I. MANDATORY NOTICES UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1)
`
`(a) Real Party-In Interest: The real party-in-interest is Petitioner Triller,
`
`Inc., a Delaware corporation. Triller Holdco LLC is the parent company of Triller,
`
`Inc.
`
`(b) Related Matters: The ’132 patent is being asserted against Petitioner in
`
`Bytedance Inc. et al. v. Triller, Inc., 3:20-CV-07572 (N.D. Cal.). In addition,
`
`Petitioner is concurrently filing petitions for inter partes review against U.S. Patent
`
`No. 9,991,322 and U.S. Pat. No. 9,294,430, which share common specifications
`
`and claims of similar scope and which are also being asserted against Petitioner in
`
`the related litigation. Petitioner requests that IPR proceedings with regard to all
`
`three petitions be consolidated.
`
`(c) Lead and Back-Up Counsel: Lead counsel is Chad E. Nydegger (USPTO
`
`Registration No. 61,020). Back-up counsel are Brian N. Platt (USPTO Registration
`
`No. 62,249) and David R. Todd (USPTO Registration No. 41,348).
`
`(d) Service Information: Petitioner consents to electronic service in this
`
`matter. Papers should be served on the following:
`
`1
`
`

`

`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 10 of 83
`
`Chad E. Nydegger (cnydegger@wnlaw.com)
`Brian N. Platt (bplatt@wnlaw.com)
`David R. Todd (dtodd@wnlaw.com)
`WORKMAN NYDEGGER
`60 East South Temple, Suite 1000
`Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
`Telephone: (801) 533-9800
`Facsimile: (801) 328-1707
`
`PAYMENT OF FEES UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.103
`
`II.
`
`Review is requested for 8 claims of the ’132 patent. The fees required under 37
`
`C.F.R. § 42.103 are calculated under 37 C.F.R. § 42.15(a) as follows:
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.15(a)(1) – Inter Partes Review Request Fee
`
`$19,000
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.15(a)(2) –Inter Partes Review Post-Institution Fee
`
`$22,500
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.15(a)(3) – Excess Claims Request Fee
`
`
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.15(a)(4) –Excess Claims Post-Institution Fee
`
`
`
`0 claims x $375/claim =
`
`$0
`
`0 claims x $750/claim =
`
`$0
`
`TOTAL: $41,500
`
`
`III. REQUIREMENTS FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW UNDER 37 C.F.R.
`§ 42.104
`
`A.
`
`Standing - 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a)
`
`Petitioner hereby certifies that the ’132 patent is available for inter partes
`
`review and that Petitioner is not barred or estopped. Petitioner was first alleged to
`
`have infringed the ’132 patent in a First Amended Complaint filed in the related
`
`2
`
`

`

`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 11 of 83
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`litigation on November 11, 2020 and served no earlier than that date. (Ex. 1029.)
`
`Therefore, the one-year limitation in 35 U.S.C. § 315(b) is not applicable. 35 U.S.C. §
`
`315(b); 35 U.S.C. § 21(b).
`
`B. Challenge and Relief Requested - 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)
`
`1.
`
`Challenged Claims - 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(1)
`
`Petitioner challenges the patentability of claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 22, 26, 27, and 31 of
`
`the ’132 patent.
`
`2.
`
`Specific Statutory Grounds - 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(2)
`
`Statutory Ground 1a: Claims 1, 22, 26, and 31 are unpatentable for anticipation
`
`by Abrams (Ex. 1009) under 35 U.S.C. § 102.
`
`Statutory Ground 1b: In the alternative, claims 1, 22, 26, and 31 are
`
`unpatentable for obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103 in view of Abrams.
`
`Statutory Ground 2: Claims 2 and 27 are unpatentable for obviousness under
`
`35 U.S.C. § 103 in view of Abrams and the knowledge of a POSITA about
`
`multitasking and multithreading (as evidenced by Java Threads (Ex. 1015) and expert
`
`testimony (Ex. 1025)).
`
`Statutory Ground 3a: Claims 3, 6, and 27 are unpatentable for anticipation by
`
`Knight 2010 (Ex. 1012) under 35 U.S.C. § 102.
`
`Statutory Ground 3b: In the alternative, claims 3, 6, and 27 are unpatentable
`
`for obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103 in view of Knight 2010.
`
`3
`
`

`

`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 12 of 83
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`Statutory Ground 4: In the alternative, claim 6 is unpatentable for obviousness
`
`under 35 U.S.C. § 103 in view of Abrams and Khedouri (Ex. 1011).
`
`Statutory Ground 5: Claim 3 is unpatentable for obviousness in view of
`
`Abrams and Khedouri and the knowledge of a POSITA about multitasking and
`
`multithreading (as evidenced by Java Threads (Ex. 1015) and expert testimony (Ex.
`
`1025)).
`
`Statutory Ground 6: In the alternative, claim 6 is unpatentable for obviousness
`
`under 35 U.S.C. § 103 in view of Abrams and Partovi (Ex. 1010).
`
`3.
`
`Claim Construction - 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(3)
`
`Where necessary, claim construction is addressed below in Section V in the
`
`context of analyzing the patentability of claims in which the construed terms appear.
`
`4.
`
`Explanation of Unpatentability - 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(4)
`
`An explanation of how claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 22, 26, 27, and 31 of the ’132 patent
`
`are unpatentable is provided in Section V below.
`
`5.
`
`Supporting Evidence - 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(5)
`
`The supporting evidence is discussed in Section V below. Exhibit numbers are
`
`identified when they are first used in this petition and in the Exhibit List beginning at
`
`page vi, above.
`
`IV. THE SPECIFICATION AND CLAIMS OF THE ’132 PATENT
`
` The ’132 patent is entitled “Method of enabling digital music content to be
`
`downloaded to and used on a portable wireless computing device,” but that title is
`
`4
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`

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`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 13 of 83
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`misleading. (Ex. 1001.) The broadest claims challenged here do not have anything
`
`to do with music but are merely directed to a social network implemented on a
`
`computer network. Independent claim 1 of the ’132 patent claims a “portable
`
`wireless computing device” comprising “a hardware processor”
`
`that
`
`is
`
`programmed with a “software application” that allows its user to carry out social
`
`networking functions (brackets with numbering have been added to facilitate
`
`discussion of the various claim limitations):
`
`[1.1] A portable wireless computing device comprising [1.2] a
`
`hardware processor programmed with a software application
`
`embodied on a non-transitory storage medium, [1.3] that enables an
`
`end-user to interact with other users in which [1.4] (a) the software
`
`application allows the end-user to, over a wireless connection, create
`
`on a remote server one or more user accounts with associated profiles
`
`for that end-user; and [1.5] (b) the software application allows the
`
`end-user to, over the wireless connection, view profiles created by
`
`other users of a service; and [1.6] (c) the software application allows
`
`the end-user to, over the wireless connection, interact with other users
`
`of the service; and [1.7] (d) the software application allows the end-
`
`user to, over the wireless connection, send and receive messages to
`
`and from other users of the service; and [1.8] (e) the software
`
`application allows the end-user to, over the wireless connection, link
`
`his or her user account on the remote server to user accounts on the
`
`remote server of other users of the same service or of other services.
`
`(Ex. 1001, 86:32-49.)
`
`5
`
`

`

`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 14 of 83
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`Independent claim 31 of the ’132 patent is of similar scope to claim 1,
`
`claiming a “software application” that is “executable on a portable wireless
`
`computing device” to allow a user to carry out the same social networking
`
`functions as claim 1 (brackets with numbering have been added to facilitate
`
`discussion of the various claim limitations):
`
`[31.1] Software application embodied on a non transitory
`
`storage medium, [31.2] wherein the software application is executable
`
`on a portable wireless computing device, [31.3] wherein the software
`
`application enables an end-user to interact with other users and [31.4]
`
`(a) in which the software application allows the end-user to, over a
`
`wireless connection, create on a remote server one or more user
`
`accounts with associated profiles for that end-user; and [31.5] (b) the
`
`software application allows the end-user to, over the wireless
`
`connection, view profiles created by other users of a service; and
`
`[31.6] (c) the software application allows the end-user to, over the
`
`wireless connection, interact with other users of the service; and
`
`[31.7] (d) the software application allows the end-user to, over the
`
`wireless connection, send and receive messages to and from other
`
`users of the service; and [31.8] (e) the software application allows the
`
`end-user to, over the wireless connection, link his or her user account
`
`on the remote server to user accounts on the remote server of other
`
`users of the same service or of other services.
`
`(Ex. 1001, 88:46-64.)
`
`6
`
`

`

`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 15 of 83
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`The specification of the ’132 patent illustrates the social networking
`
`functionality described in these two independent claims. For example, Figure 135
`
`shows the user interface for a software application running on a mobile telephone
`
`that allows an end-user to create a user account with an associated profile, as
`
`recited in claims 1 and 31:
`
`
`
`(Ex. 1001, Fig. 135, 76:18-32.) In this example, the user is creating a user profile
`
`with the profile name “Billy Pepper.” Once a user has created his profile, the
`
`software allows a user to see his “profile” on a “My Profile” screen, shown below:
`
`7
`
`

`

`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 16 of 83
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`(Ex. 1001, Fig. 136.) The profile includes the user’s member name (here,
`
`“Murdock”), an image unique to the user, a rating indicating how other users have
`
`rated the user (here, with five stars), the number of times other users have listened
`
`to one of the user’s shared music playlists (here, 0), the number of friends that the
`
`user has (here, 1), and a “catchphrase” (here, “I knew it, I knew it…you had a
`
`plan!”). (Ex. 1001, 76:34-60.)
`
`The specification further illustrates how a user can view profiles created by
`
`other users, as recited in claims 1 and 31:
`
`8
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`

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`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 17 of 83
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`
`
`
`(Ex. 1001, Figs. 141, 142.) The specification explains that in the screens shown in
`
`Figure 141, a user can see a list of the users that the user has added as a friend, and
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`in the screen shown in Figure 142, the user can view the member profile of other
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`users (here, another user named “DJ Coldplay”). (Ex. 1001, 77:39-67.)
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`
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`The specification also illustrates how a user can link his or her user account
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`to user accounts of other users (via friend requests), can interact with other users
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`(by sharing recommendations about music), and can send and receive messages to
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`and from other users, as recited in claims 1 and 31. (Ex. 1001, 32:26-33.) This
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`functionality is illustrated in Figures 146 and 148:
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`(Ex. 1001, Figs. 146, 148.) In Figure 146, the user is sending a friend request to a
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`user named “Matt,” and in Figure 148, the user is sending a recommendation about
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`a music track to another user. (Ex. 1001, 78:12-20, 78:31-43, 78:62-67.) In both
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`figures, the user is also sending messages to other users. In Figure 146, the user is
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`sending the message “Billy is ready to rock!” and in Figure 148, the user is sending
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`the message “U know I’m a bit…” A friend request or a recommendation causes a
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`message to arrive in the other user’s “inbox.” (Ex. 1001, 78:12-20, 78:66-67, 79:1-
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`80:14, Figs. 149-154.)
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`
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`As demonstrated below, claims 1 and 31, as well as claims 2, 3, 6, 22, 26, and
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`27 (which depend from claim 1), are unpatentable.
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`V. CLAIMS 1, 2, 3, 6, 22, 26, 27, and 31 OF THE ’132 PATENT ARE
`UNPATENTABLE
`
`
`A. Claims 1, 22, 26, and 31 Are Anticipated, or At Least Rendered
`Obvious, By Abrams
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`1. Overview of Abrams
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`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0021750 (“Abrams”) was
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`published on January 27, 2005 (Ex. 1009, cover page), and is therefore prior art to
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`the ’132 patent under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) or post-AIA 35 U.S.C.
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`§ 102(a)(1).1 Abrams was not considered by the Examiner of the ’132 patent. (Ex.
`
`1001, References Cited.)
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`Like the ’132 patent, Abrams describes a social network implemented on a
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`computer network. The Abrams system allows an end-user to create a user account
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`with an associated profile, as recited in claims 1 and 31. Figure 3a of Abrams
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`shows a user interface presented on two web pages designed to obtain “user
`
`
`1 The amendments to 35 U.S.C. § 102 made by the Leahy-Smith America
`Invents Act apply to “any patent application that contains or contained at any time
`a claim to a claimed invention that has an effective filing date that is on or after
`[March 16, 2013].” Pub. L. No. 112-29 § 3(n), 125 Stat. 284, 293 (2011). For the
`reasons set forth below in section V.C., the ’132 patent has one or more claims
`with an effective filing date after March 16, 2013 and is therefore subject to post-
`AIA 35 U.S.C. § 102. Nevertheless, Abrams is prior art to the ’132 patent
`regardless of whether the AIA is applicable or not.
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`descriptive data.” (Ex. 1009, ¶¶99, 67.) “Descriptive data generally describes
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`characteristics and preferences of a user…. For example, a descriptive data element
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`may be that a user is interested in a certain hobby, say, skiing.” (Ex. 1009, ¶41.)
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`Descriptive data might also include “a first and last name” or “attributes of the
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`user, such as gender, marital status or occupation.” (Ex. 1009, ¶64; accord id. at
`
`¶91.) Figure 3a is reproduced below:
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`(Ex. 1009, Fig. 3a.) In this figure, a first screen 302 is used to collect descriptive
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`data about the user, and a second screen 304 is used to collect “further descriptive
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`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11/11/21 Page 21 of 83
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`data” about the user. (Ex. 1009, ¶99; see also id. at ¶¶41, 43, 108.) Descriptive data
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`may also include a digital image of the user. (Ex. 1009, ¶91.) Figure 3b shows a
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`screen 308 that allows users to upload a digital image:
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`
`
`(Ex. 1009, Fig. 3b.)
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`
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`Descriptive data input by the user is stored in a database on a server
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`apparatus. (Ex. 1009, Fig. 1, ¶¶46, 50, 67, 76, 86, 88-89.) The contents of the
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`database are illustrated in Figure 2, reproduced below:
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`
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`In Figure 2, descriptive data within database 200 is grouped into “user data” 202,
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`“location data” 204, “zip code data” 206, “profile data” 208, “photos” 210, and
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`“testimonial data” 212. (Ex. 1009, ¶¶91-92.) Note that “profile data” 208 includes
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`“Interests,”
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`“Favoritemusic,”
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`“Favoritebooks,”
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`“Favoritetv,”
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`and
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`“Favoritemovies,” among many other things. (Ex. 1009, Fig. 2, ¶91.) Database 200
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`also contains other types of data, including relationship data (216, 218, 220) and
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`preference data, which will be discussed below. (Ex. 1009, ¶¶90, 93-98.)
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`
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`As with the ’132 patent, Abrams discloses that a user can view profiles
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`created by other users. (Ex. 1009, ¶45.) Figure 5, reproduced below, shows a web
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`page that presents to a user “the other users within his social network” (Ex. 1009,
`
`¶102):
`
`(Ex. 1009, Fig. 5.) On the web page in this figure, other users within the user’s
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`social network have been filtered by various parameters shown on the left of the
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`screen, including gender, age, location, etc. (See Ex. 1009, ¶102.) Three users
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`meeting the search criteria can be seen on the right side of the screen, along with
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`their photo, gender, relationship status, interests, age, location, and number of
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`friends. (See Ex. 1009, ¶103.) For each of those three users, the user interface
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`provides options (shown on the far right of the screen) to “View Profile,” “Send
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`Message,” etc. (Ex. 1009, Fig. 5.)
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`
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`If a user selects “View Profile,” he will be presented with a screen 602 such
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`as the one shown in Figure 6, reproduced below:
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`
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`(Ex. 1009, Fig. 6.) Figure 6 shows an interface “that displays a profile—a
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`collection of descriptive, preference and relationship data” about a particular user
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`named “Cindy.” (Ex. 1009, ¶105.) In this example, “descriptive data shown
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`includes gender, [relationship] status, age, occupation, location, hometown and
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`interests,” as well as digital images of the user, the user’s friends, and a testimonial
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`from another user. (Ex. 1009, ¶105.) Preference data is also shown, including “her
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`preference for dating…men.” (Ex. 1009, ¶105.) Relationship data is also shown in
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`the upper left corner. (See Ex. 1009, ¶105.)
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`Abrams also discloses that a user can link his or her user account to user
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`accounts of other users (via friend requests). (Ex. 1009, ¶¶41, 43, 65, 70, 95, 101,
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`106-108, 122.) A user may link his or her account with someone who does not
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`currently have an account by inviting a friend to join the system. (Ex. 1009, ¶¶43,
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`101, 106-108.) To do so, a user provides the system with a friend’s email address,
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`and the system sends an e-mail invitation to the friend to join the system. (Ex.
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`1009, ¶¶43, 53, 101, 106, Figs. 4, 7.) The friend can accept the invitation and join
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`the system by clicking on a link and entering “descriptive data” about
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`himself/herself. (Ex. 1009, Fig. 4, ¶¶43, 53, 101, 108.) If the friend accepts the
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`invitation and joins the system, the friend and the inviting user are “automatically
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`defined within the system as ‘friends.’” (Ex. 1009, ¶108.) Specifically, the users
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`are listed in the “friends data” 216 in each other’s section of the database 200. (Ex.
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`1009, Fig. 2, ¶¶95, 41, 43, 65, 70; Ex. 1025, p. 69.) A user may also initiate friend
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`requests “within the system,” and two users can “confirm that they are ‘friends.’”
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`(Ex. 1009, ¶¶95, 43; Ex. 1025, pp. 38-39.)
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`
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`Abrams also discloses that a user can exchange messages with other users.
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`As seen in Figure 5, the user interface provides an option to “Send Message.” (Ex.
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`1009, Fig. 5.) If a user viewing this interface “discovers other users who have
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`characteristics she finds appealing, …she may wish to communicate with the user”
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`by selecting this option. (Ex. 1009, ¶45.) This allows her to “contact the user
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`through the communication system.” (Ex. 1009, ¶45; accord id. at ¶104.) This
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`system is “an internal messaging system whereby users may send one another
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`private messages.” (Ex. 1009, ¶97; accord id. at ¶104.) Data about messages sent
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`through the internal message system are stored as “messages” data 224 in database
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`200. (Ex. 1009, ¶¶96-97, Fig. 2.)
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`
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`Abrams also discloses that a user can interact with other users in other ways
`
`as well. (Ex. 1009, ¶41.) For example, “one user can write a positive comment
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`about a second user’s personality,” and “the second user may accept or reject
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`display of the comment.” (Ex. 1009, ¶44.) As another example, users within a
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`certain number of degrees of relationship can “conduct online discussions” using
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`an electronic “bulletin board.” (Ex. 1009, ¶98.) Data from those discussions are
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`stored as “bulletinboard” data 226 in database 200. (Ex. 1009, ¶96, Fig. 2.)
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`
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`Abrams discloses that this system is implemented on a “server apparatus”
`
`110 communicating with a Web browser running on user devices 106 and 108, as
`
`shown in Figure 1:
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`Case 4:20-cv-07572-JSW Document 70-1 Filed 11